A month-in-review of California dive visibility for May 2026 - what the SpearFactor tool predicted, what the diver report network confirmed, where the predictions hit and missed, and the calibration lessons going into June.

Southern California's forecast for June 2026 - what's coming after a late-May NW swell pulse, where temperatures are heading, the moon phase windows to weight your dive days against, and which species patterns to plan around in this warm-water El Niño year.

California yellowtail are stacked at La Jolla and the Coronado Islands and pushing north toward Catalina and the Channel Islands. A current snapshot of where the schools are, how they are behaving, and where the next 2-4 weeks of season are heading.

El Niño-driven warm water has reshaped California's spring 2026 season. Where conditions stand now, what's arriving early, and what divers should plan around through summer.

Understanding swell forecast models is the difference between calling trips correctly and showing up to blown-out conditions. The major models divers should know, how to read them, and how to combine multiple sources for the most reliable picture.

California MPAs cover 16 percent of state waters and have been in place since 2012. The 2022 ten-year review showed mixed results, with limited spillover evidence. What expansion proposals like the Point Loma kelp closure would mean for divers, La Jolla, and the future of California spearfishing access.

Sea urchin barrens and Tijuana River sewage are devastating California kelp forests - not recreational spearfishing or diving. The science behind the decline, and the real solutions: sheephead recovery, urchin culling, and binational cleanup of the Tijuana River pollution flowing north into Imperial Beach and Point Loma.

Drifting kelp paddies offshore are floating fish magnets - yellowtail and dorado work the up-current side, bluefin tuna sit in the down-current shadow. How to spot a productive paddy, follow the current line to find more, and approach without spooking the fish.

Restaurant-quality sashimi from a spearfishing trip starts on the back of the boat, not in your kitchen. The on-water processing protocol that lets you drive home stress-free with sushi-grade fish ready to fillet and serve.

Weekend new moon WSB window got blown out by a late-spring weather system. Strong NW swell, heavy onshore wind, and a thick marine layer shut down most planned dives Saturday and Sunday. Here's the recovery forecast and where to dive Tuesday through Friday.

Moon phases drive tides, fish behavior, and feeding patterns. How divers can use the new moon, full moon, and quarter moons to plan productive spearfishing days.

The thermocline is where warm surface water meets cold deeper water - and where many predator species stage to feed. How to find it, what fish hold there, and how to hunt them.

Spearfishing San Diego: a region-by-region breakdown from the Mexican border north to Oceanside. Where to dive, what to expect, and how to pick the right spot.

Red tide kills viz, can make you sick, and changes where fish hold. How to spot it, when it's safe to dive, and what to do if you encounter a bloom mid-trip.

Giant black sea bass were nearly wiped out of California waters by 1980. Forty years later they are coming back. The full story of California's largest reef fish.

The mammalian dive reflex is the autonomic adaptation that lets humans dive deep on a single breath. How it works, how to train it, and why it matters for spearfishing safety and performance.

Why Iki-jime is so much better for your fish than just standard bleeding?

Building your Spearfishing gear over time. A 12-month gear roadmap

Divers' spear gun floating by itself after diver blocks out.

Don't be that guy. Don't post pictures that expose spots.